You’re helping young people be equipped for the future

Your support has played an important part in helping Year 13 students grow their dependance on God, helping them step out in faith in every aspect of their life. Year 13 not only brings understanding of the Christian life, but opportunities for community and unity between students.

Former Year 13 student, Joshua Braine, joined Year 13 in 2019. When he was about to finish high school, Joshua heard about Year 13 through a close friend and was encouraged with how passionate they were. He wasn’t sure what to do after school, so he thought Year 13 would be helpful to equip him for entering the real world and make some solid Christian friends too. Joshua says:

 “Going out of high school it was sort of a different world and I think that if I had a Christian foundation outside of school, I thought that could be helpful and I could make some solid Christian friends outside of my church. Because Christianity is all around Sydney, not just in the Hills area you know.”

While Joshua enjoyed the educational aspects of his year, he also found the fellowship beneficial. He says:

“My favourite part, well, is being able to go there (Year 13 campus) every week and spending the night there. That part of the program just allows for a very deep connection with people you are with and a great space of fellowship. That structure in the program is a time where you can separate from your week and just devote it to God.”

Further on, Joshua believes that Year 13 helped grow his relationship with God, especially his dependance on Him and being courageous to ask questions.

 “..it grew me in my dependence on God, a lot of things happen outside of school when you graduate and it can be scary sometimes. You can look at the world and be like ‘whoa!’ but, at Year 13 they teach you how to look at the world in the eyes of a Christian, in the eyes of a relationship with God,” he says.

Thanks to the generosity of Youthworks supporters, Year 13 is helping young people see the world in a Christian lens, strengthening their relationship with God and being equipped to trust in Him with the knowledge and truth of the Gospel.  

That support is also helping those graduates to share the gospel with their friends.

I think I used to be very forward and very passionate in inviting [my friends] to youth,” says Joshua. “Which is good, but the hard part is being able to trust in God and understand other people’s viewpoints… through Year 13 God has taught me about trusting in him and taking small steps in the direction that he has for me, even though I’m unsure”.

Thank you for your investment into Year 13, to grow and strengthen young people’s love and desire to know Christ and preparing them for all aspects of their life.